Why has my adult
house trained dog
suddenly started peeing in the house?

Adult dog recently started peeing in house

Why is my adult dog suddenly
urinating in the house, and what can I do about it?

When a previously house trained and well behaved dog suddenly starts
peeing in the house you have to suspect that something has changed. There is a reason
why your dog is doing this.

You, the dog owner knows and understands your dog better than anyone
else. It may be up to you to discover what
the underlying cause is.

Below I have outlined some of the reasons why your adult dog has
changed it's usual behavior and has begun peeing (and sometimes pooping)
inside the house instead of going outside.

Usually the problem of sudden onset peeing in the house falls into
two categories.

1. A medical reason.
2. A Change in behavior brought on by outside influences.

Read through the possible causes below and you may be able to gain
some insight into your dog's problem.

A medical reason is
often a common
cause for an adult dog to suddenly begin urinating in the house so it is essential to rule out a medical cause first.
Many of the
medical conditions that commonly cause inappropriate urination can quickly
become serious for your dog.

To Rule out Medical Problems you need to schedule
an appointment with your Vet.

Your veterinarian should perform a thorough physical exam and
talk to you about what is going on.

A urine sample from your dog will probably be necessary for
analysis. This sample will help indicate if there is an infection going
on, how well the kidneys are concentrating the urine, and if there are
any crystals.

Your veterinarian may recommend any of the following tests depending
on your dog and the urine results: Bloodwork, Xrays or an
ultrasound.

If you've ruled out Medical Problemslet's move on to outside
influences.

Outside influences
causing Behavioral Changes.
Causes of Sudden Onset of Peeing in the House

Changes to the dog's environment are
also a common cause for a dog to suddenly begin
urinating in the house.

Changes can include things such as:

*
Adding
a new pet to the household. * The
addition of a new baby to the household* Death in the family or
someone going away* Construction work
going on in the home* Change in the owner’s
household routines. * Changes in the neighborhood like a new dog
moving in.*
Separation Anxiety* Any Scary Event
for your dog (You may have to give this one some thought)*
New Home

Stress and anxiety can lead to inappropriate urination.
Can you think of anything that has changed that may be
causing your dog to feel stressful or anxious?

One of the
most common examples of this is dogs with separation anxiety.
When the owner leaves the home, the dog urinates or
defecates. This is often interpreted as the dog being “mad”
that the owner left. In reality, it is a reflection of the
dog’s anxiety level. Punishing the dog for being anxious
only increases the anxiety. (Read more on Separation Anxiety)

Dogs do not punish their owners.

Some owners are under the misconception that the dog is peeing in the
house to punish the owner. Dogs do not retaliate or do things out of
spite.

Some tips re Punishment of Dogs for peeing
in the house.

Never punish your dog for inappropriate
urination. Don't rub your dog's nose in it or shout or even worse hit
your dog. You will only make matters worse. You need to find the reason
why your dog is doing this. Nothing will be gained by punishment. Much can be gained by understanding your dog
and why this inappropriate behavior is happening. Punishment will only
make insecurities and anxiety worse.

Always remember that a dog learns faster from praise for doing the right
thing rather than punishment for doing the wrong thing

Cleaning up

Cleaning up existing dog urine is
important. When your dog pees on the carpet it leaves an odor
that your dog may repeatedly return to. To avoid this try the Dog Urine
Cleaning Recipe below.

Often your adult dog just needs a
short “refresher course” in house training. With a little reminder, most
dogs get right back to their good potty habits.

You can also help prevent accidents by keeping your dog away from the
area they have been going potty in. A baby gate or closed door can
easily restrict your dog’s access.

Retraining your dog requires the same steps you would use with a new
puppy:Read this for more advice.
Potty
Training Adult Dog

Schedule: Take your dog outside on a set schedule. Your adult dog
should be able to hold their urine for 4-8 hours depending on their
activity level. Set a schedule and stick to it every day.

Reward: Go outside with your dog each time. Take a tasty food treat.
When your dog goes potty in the correct place, praise them and offer a
food reward. This will help your dog want to go potty in the right
place.

Consistency: Your consistency in training is the key to your dog’s
success. Stick with your training plan and you will see fast results.
The more consistent you are, the faster your dog will get back on track.